Berndt and M.C. Schmidt’s Cloud Machines blends avant-garde electronics on limited edition egg yolk vinyl
Emerging from over a decade of meticulous creativity, M.C. Schmidt and John Berndt present Cloud Machines, their debut collaborative album that explores the boundaries of avant-garde electronic music. This ambitious project draws on a rich palette of unusual instrumentation and experimental sound design, revealing an intricate sonic landscape crafted meticulously over twelve years. The album stands as a distinctive statement within contemporary experimental music, with its refined textures and abstract structures evoking a cerebral listening experience. Highlighted by the track “Gecko Lazzaro,” which serves as an intriguing entry point, the record transcends typical genre constraints, appealing to aficionados of boundary-pushing sound explorations.
The partnership of Schmidt and Berndt, both pivotal figures in Baltimore’s avant-garde scene, materializes in Cloud Machines as an emblem of sustained artistic dialogue. Their synthesis channels a deep engagement with electronic and alternative music idioms, though the album’s resistance to easy classification aligns it closer to experimental and abstract approaches reminiscent of contemporary acts such as Dälek and Fennesz. The careful involvement of Rashad Becker in mastering reinforces the work’s sonic precision and textural depth, ensuring that subtle nuances in the soundscapes are preserved and emphasized. The artistic collaboration extends beyond music, with the album’s packaging and artwork reflecting a coherent aesthetic vision crafted by Schmidt, Berndt, and Karen Eliot, enhancing the album’s immersive quality.
Appearing through the Thrill Jockey label, known for its roster of exploratory and innovative artists, Cloud Machines positions itself among a lineage of influential experimental electronic records released on vinyl, meeting the desires of collectors and audiophiles who value unique pressings. The distinctive egg yolk-colored vinyl edition adds a tactile and visual dimension to the listening experience, complemented by an inner sleeve that likely contains additional artwork or liner notes, cultivating a tangible connection between the listener and the album’s conceptual core. Enthusiasts of independent music releases will find this offering notable for its rarefied and long-gestated production process, as well as for its alignment with the label’s reputation for supporting forward-thinking musicians.
Musically, Cloud Machines resonates with listeners familiar with the experimental contours of artists like Oneohtrix Point Never or Holly Herndon, whose works blend electronic instrumentation with abstract compositional methods that challenge conventional frameworks. The album’s layered textures and methodical pacing demonstrate a shared sensibility with these contemporaries, while also drawing on the unique vibrancy of the Baltimore avant-garde scene inhabited by its creators. Throughout its ten tracks, including evocative titles such as “The Sound of Glink,” “Trigger Effect,” and the closing piece “Cloud Machines,” the album creates a cohesive narrative experience that rewards attentive and repeated listening, blending ambient textures with subtle rhythmic complexity.
For those tracking new vinyl releases and artist developments within the independent and experimental music sectors, this album presents a compelling subject for exploration, underscoring the continuum of innovation within electronic music today. The provision of an instant digital download for “Gecko Lazzaro” upon pre-order offers immediate access to the album’s distinctive sound, while the complete digital release coincides with its official availability. This dual approach ensures both collectors and digital audiences can engage with the work in formats that suit their listening preferences, marking a thoughtful embrace of the evolving modes of music consumption while honoring the physicality of vinyl culture.
Learn more about M.C Schmidt